Best Iris Josephina Podcasts (2025)

1
201. Healing Grief, Fear and Loneliness after Pregnancy Loss (Iris Josephina Verstappen) 1:01:28

17d ago1:01:28

1:01:28

A few months ago, our guest today, the founder of Cycle Seeds Iris Josephina Verstappen, was hosting a retreat in a goddess temple in Malta when she began to miscarry. Having accompanied many women through pregnancy loss, both as a doula and a holistic hormone and cycle coach, she’s witnessed the storm of emotions that can arise with miscarriage, a…

1
Episode 58 - Menstrual Traditions in India with Mehvish Khan 40:23

3d ago40:23

40:23

🐚Topics covered Mehvish's personal journey into menstrual health and her cultural background in Gujarat, India Ancient Indian practices around menstruation, including celebrations of first menstruation in South India The concept of menstrual seclusion and its original purpose of providing rest and healing Sacred materials like Darbha grass mats use…

1
203. How to Claim and Express Yourself in Inner Summer - REPLAY (Alexandra & Sjanie) 58:43

3d ago58:43

58:43

What if there is a direct connection between your pleasure and your power? And what if harnessing the magic of inner summer of the menstrual cycle - the ovulation phase - is the key to unleashing a deeply pleasurable, full expression of who you are in the world? We believe that both of these statements are true, but - as we explore in this podcast …

1
Episode 57 - The Science of Safe Charting: Fertility Awareness Education with Nat Daudet 33:05

10d ago33:05

33:05

🐚Topics covered The difference between in-depth fertility charting and basic cycle tracking Why the rhythm method is unreliable and how it differs from evidence-based charting The importance of basal body temperature as a progesterone sign in confirming ovulation Why cervical mucus is equally important as temperature and serves as an "insurance pol…

1
202. How Menstrual Cycle Awareness Can Transform PMS and PMDD (Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:03:18

10d ago1:03:18

1:03:18

Did you know that 3-8% of women and people with cycles experience PMDD, which stands for premenstrual dysphoric disorder? If you are one of these people, or you are close to or work with someone with PMDD, this episode is especially for you. It’s also for you, if you - like me - have experienced intense, debilitating, dark and challenging emotional…

1
Episode 56 - New Non-Hormonal Birth Control Methods: Innovation or Interruption? 31:13

21d ago31:13

31:13

🐚Topics covered Critical analysis of Mifepristone as a "hormone-free" weekly birth control pill Examination of a new microscopic valve system for fallopian tubes The difference between "hormone-free" and truly non-invasive contraception Why blocking progesterone isn't as neutral as it sounds The materials and potential risks of implantable valve de…

1
200. How to Recover Your Health in Menopause with Herbal Medicine (Melinda McDougall) 59:17

24d ago59:17

59:17

If you’re curious to explore natural approaches to support menopause health symptoms today’s episode is for you. Our guest, Melinda McDougall, is a registered Medical Herbalist specialising in women's health and menopause. She combines the latest scientific research into botanical medicines with the traditional knowledge women have used for centuri…

1
199. How to Use Energy Work for Menstrual, Menopause and Womb Health (Prune Harris) 1:08:01

1M ago1:08:01

1:08:01

Our guest today, energy expert Prune Harris sees the womb as the deepest house of wisdom that we have, and today we explore how to work energetically to cultivate womb health, as well as menstrual and menopause health. Since birth, Prune has been able to see energy - the energy of humans, animals, trees and the Earth, and she sees this energy as vi…

1
Episode 55 - Your Truth Is Your Medicine: A Journey of Transformation with Janne Robinson 1:08:38

1M ago1:08:38

1:08:38

🐚Topics covered Janne's transformative journey from feeling trapped in her life to creating a new path aligned with her truth The power of listening to feelings as information that guides us toward necessary life changes How making one major change can cascade into multiple areas of authentic transformation The importance of creating community whil…

1
Episode 54 - The Connection Between Your Menstrual Cycle, Stress, Safety, and Cellular Repair 45:39

1M ago45:39

45:39

🐚 Topics covered Understanding adrenal physiology and the HPA axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis) The stress response cascade: what happens in your body during stress How cortisol and adrenaline work and their different roles in stress response The connection between stress hormones and blood sugar regulation How modern lifestyle has created…

1
198. The Connection between Your Menstrual Cycle and Your Mental & Emotional Health (Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:06:06

1M ago1:06:06

1:06:06

As part of our ongoing series about the connection between menstrual cycle awareness and our health & wellbeing today we’re exploring how getting to know your cycle can be a vital foundation for mental and emotional health. Alexandra and Sjanie are both retired therapists, and today they share their learnings from their own personal cycle awareness…

1
Episode 53 - A Depth Psychological Approach to Menstruation with Dr. Roxanne Partridge 58:34

1M ago58:34

58:34

🐚 Topics covered How depth psychology differs from mainstream psychological approaches The menstrual cycle as a path to self-knowing and wholeness Meeting our cyclical experiences with curiosity rather than judgment Breaking free from rigid expectations about how our cycles "should" be The relationship between menstruation, dreaming, and indigenous…

1
197. How Your Menstrual Cycle is a Compass Leading you Towards Joy (Edveeje Fairchild) 1:02:12

2M ago1:02:12

1:02:12

Menstrual cycle awareness can guide us to create more rest in our lives, including a mini menstrual sabbatical each month to renew us and restore our connection to joy. Our guest today, author, poet and teacher Edveeje Fairchild has been a devotee to rest for her entire life, having been raised in a spiritual tradition that honoured the weekly sabb…

1
196. How to Connect to the Cyclical Wisdom of Your Dreams (Toko-Pa Turner) 56:09

2M ago56:09

56:09

When Toko-pa Turner first started to experience signs of perimenopause, she was simultaneously diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called rheumatoid arthritis, and the combination led to severe insomnia. Sleep deprivation is challenging for all of us, but in Toko-pa’s case it was especially disorientating because for over twenty-five years she has…

1
Episode 52 - Ancestral Postpartum Care with Pānquetzani 1:00:42

2M ago1:00:42

1:00:42

🐚Topics covered Exploring Mexican traditional medicine (Curanderismo) and its holistic approach to healing The sacred postpartum window (La Cuarentena) and its importance for maternal and infant wellbeing How colonialism has impacted ancestral healing traditions and ways to reclaim these practices The understanding of the womb as both a physical or…

1
195. Part Two: How Cycle Awareness Helps you to Manage your Energy (Q+A w/ Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:08:21

2M ago1:08:21

1:08:21

Today we’re in conversation with the brilliant community gathered around this work and podcast in our part two episode about how to work with menstrual cycle awareness as our own in-built energy management system. This conversation is for you if you struggle to follow the impulses of your cycle around the modern-life juggle of responsibilities, or …

1
194: How Menstrual Cycle Awareness Helps you to Manage your Energy (Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:03:59

2M ago1:03:59

1:03:59

We’re experiencing an epidemic of chronic fatigue and burnout, especially for women, and people with marginalised identities. It’s part of our modern day polycrisis, and in many ways the exhaustion we’re experiencing in our individual bodies mirrors the environmental challenges that are ravaging our earth, our larger body. We’re driving both to the…

1
Episode 51 - Supporting Autonomy: How Midwifery Approaches can Transform Women’s Health with Margot van Dijk 42:53

2M ago42:53

42:53

🐚 Topics covered Exploring the profession of midwifery and what it means to Margot The importance of autonomy during pregnancy, birth, and beyond, and why it matters. Margot’s views on how midwifery approaches could broaden to encompass the entire spectrum of cyclical and women’s health. About Margot Margot has been a midwife for 10 years and becam…

1
Episode 50 - My Miscarriage Experience 32:41

2M ago32:41

32:41

🐚 Content Warning: This episode contains a detailed discussion of pregnancy loss and miscarriage, which may be triggering for some listeners. Topics covered My personal experience with pregnancy loss during a pilgrimage in Malta Why I feel pregnancy loss needs to be spoken about more openly in society The emotional aftermath, including identity cri…

1
193. Cultivating Resilience and Preventing Burnout in Perimenopause (Jolinda Johnson) 56:45

2M ago56:45

56:45

When we enter the autumn of our menstruation years in our 40s and start to experience what many call perimenopause, we can easily think we should keep pushing through even though our bodies, minds and emotional landscape are transforming profoundly. (Alexandra and Sjanie, the co-founders or Red School call this phase the Quickening, or the autumn o…

1
192. Part Two: Beginner’s Guide to Menstrual Cycle Awareness (Q&A with Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:01:10

3M ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Today we’re continuing our exploration around the fundamentals of the practice of menstrual cycle awareness, through the lens of some of the frequently asked questions from our community, such as what to do if your menstrual cycle doesn’t look like the archetypal cycle, how to track your cycle if you have menstrual health challenges, and how to tal…

1
Episode 49 - Neurodivergent Pregnancy and Birth: Approach to Compassionate Care with Victoria White 33:24

3M ago33:24

33:24

🐚 Topics covered Victoria’s background and how they became interested in birth work. The journey to specializing in neurodivergent pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. Key differences between neurodivergent prenatal care and neurotypical care. Victoria’s vision for changes in birth care. Recommendations for neurodivergent individuals preparing fo…

1
191. How to Retire Superwoman and Honour Your Needs in Perimenopause (Dr Joanna Martin) 57:04

3M ago57:04

57:04

In our forties, many of us hit a wall. It can be a time when our responsibilities are at an all time high, just when our bodies are telling us - sometimes very loudly - that it’s time to change the way we’ve been living and working so far. Our guest today, renowned visionary, coach and catalyst Dr Joanna Martin helps us understand how to navigate t…

1
Episode 48 - Awakening Your True Essence Through Movement with Virgílio Beatriz 1:00:07

3M ago1:00:07

1:00:07

🐚 Topics covered Virgílio’s journey into music, DJing, and holding space for ecstatic dances, gatherings, and circles, is what fuels his passion for this field. A deep dive into what ecstatic dance is, including its history and the influence of Gabrielle Roth. The benefits of ecstatic dance and why Virgílio recommends people try it. How community, …

1
190. A Beginner’s Guide to Menstrual Cycle Awareness (Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:05:13

3M ago1:05:13

1:05:13

When people hear about menstrual cycle awareness, they’re often surprised, confused and baffled by the idea that there could be a connection between the menstrual cycle and your creativity, power and wisdom. It’s no surprise given current cultural attitudes around the menstrual cycle and menopause, which are largely ignored or dismissed. So today’s…

1
Episode 47 - ADHD and Hormones: How Your Menstrual Cycle Affects ADHD Symptoms with Adele Wimsett of Harmonise You 39:49

3M ago39:49

39:49

🐚 Topics covered Adele's journey to specializing in women's health and ADHD The significant connection between hormonal fluctuations and ADHD traits in women How different phases of the menstrual cycle can affect neurodivergent women differently The impact of major hormonal transitions like pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause on ADHD Why neuro…

1
Episode 46 - Protecting & Regenerating Your Body from the Impact of Glyphosate and Everyday Toxins with Susana Puelles 42:08

3M ago42:08

42:08

🐚 Topics covered Introduction to Susana and her journey to becoming a Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Acupuncturist. Explanation of Glyphosate: What it is, where it can be found, and how we come into contact with it. Overview of everyday toxins and their common sources. Discussion on how people can recognize if they are being impacted by Glyphosa…

1
189. The Wisdom of Indigenous Andean Moontime Practices & Woman Medicine (Dr Cynthia Ingar) 59:53

3M ago59:53

59:53

In many indigenous communities across the world, people have long honoured menstruation as a sacred time. Today we’re lucky to be exploring the beauty and wisdom of the ancestral moontime medicine of the Andean people, and our guest is Dr Cynthia Ingar, who is an anthropologist and Andean keeper of Woman Medicine wisdom living in the Sacred Valley …

1
Episode 45 - Is the Holistic Hormone and Cycle Coaching Certification Right for You? 19:47

4M ago19:47

19:47

🐚 Topics covered Why I created the Holistic Hormone and Cycle Coaching Certification program What you'll learn inside my certification and what makes it different from other trainings The current gap in menstrual and hormone health education that my certification addresses Comprehensive breakdown of my program options including Self-Study and VIP u…

1
188. The Womb as a Portal to Personal, Collective and Ancestral Trauma Healing (Dr Jeevan Singh) 57:21

4M ago57:21

57:21

Befriending our menstrual cycles and wombs and coming home to the root of our body, and to our pelvic bowls often means negotiating any trauma that we’ve experienced in that part of our bodies, or other traumas that we hold in this part of our bodies. As our guest today, the brilliant Dr Jeevan Singh shares, the pelvic bowl is an organ of relations…

1
187. How Inner Spring Evolves our Leadership Skills - Replay (Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:03:03

4M ago1:03:03

1:03:03

Spring is just beginning here where Alexandra, Sjanie and I are in the UK, and due to popular demand, this time two years ago we rode off the springtime momentum to create a couple of podcast episodes all about the inner spring - the preovulatory phase of the cycle. Many of you have been sharing questions about this pre-ovulatory phase of the cycle…

1
Episode 44 - Exploring Psychotherapy to Support Mental Health for Fertility & Gynecological Issues with Alejandra Lozada Andrade 33:40

4M ago33:40

33:40

🐚 Content Warning: This episode discusses fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, and mental health topics including depression and suicidal thoughts. If you're currently on a fertility journey and struggling, please take care while listening and reach out for support if needed. Topics covered The impact of fertility on mental health. Why fertility h…

1
186. Menopause as a Gateway to Magnificence: Wise Power Series (Prune Harris) 58:44

4M ago58:44

58:44

Today we’re exploring the immense capacities that open up to us as we move through menopause, and it’s a special episode as Alexandra, the co-founder of Red School is your host, and it’s our next Wise Power series conversation... The Wise Power series began with our Wise Power retreat when S+A’s book Wise Power was published and Alexandra is contin…

1
Episode 43 - Filling the Gaps: Improving Birth Through Disability Education & Inclusive Care with Amy Rae 31:56

4M ago31:56

31:56

🐚Topics covered Amy’s personal journey and experiences. How Amy decided to become a birth worker/educator and the pivotal moments that shaped their path. Gaps within the birth system for 2SLGBTQAI+ and disabled individuals. How Amy addresses these gaps through her work. What working with Amy looks like in practice. Amy’s wisdom and advice for indiv…

1
185. Perimenopause - What’s Actually Going On? Replay (Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:02:16

4M ago1:02:16

1:02:16

In our 40s, many of us begin to experience a variety of health symptoms and challenges, as well as emotional and psychological shifts. Some call this perimenopause. At Red School, Alexandra and Sjanie call it, The Quickening… So for today’s podcast episode - we’re re-sharing a conversation from a couple of years ago - one of the most listened to an…

1
Episode 42 - The Fifth Vital Sign: Fertility Awareness Uncovered with Lisa Henderson-Jack 57:45

4M ago57:45

57:45

🐚 Topics covered Introduction to the guest and an overview of their work. Understanding fertility awareness and its benefits for users. Using the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) with irregular cycles and during postpartum. Exploring the diversity of cervical fluid patterns, how these may differ from standard examples in books. Discussion on whethe…

1
184. Our Wombs, Cycles & Menopause as Doorways to Spiritual Power (Uma Dinsmore Tuli) 1:03:15

5M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

As many of you will know, Uma Dinsmore Tuli has been a powerful force for good in many fields for decades, including Yoga, Menstruality, and women’s health. She describes herself as a writer, an educator, a Hyperactive Yoginī, a mother of three and a devotee to the Dark Mother. Today we chat about the cycles that guide Uma’s life, from the planets,…

1
Episode 41 - How I discovered what a sensorium is and how it changed my life 18:21

5M ago18:21

18:21

🐚 Topics Covered: What is a sensorium Where and how I discovered this beautiful practice How it changed my life and how I relate to myself and others About the Host I’m Iris Josephina—functional hormone specialist, orthomolecular hormone coach, and entrepreneur. Through Cycle Seeds and The Inner Rhythms Podcast, I support people in reconnecting wit…

1
183. The Connection between Cycle Awareness, Witchcraft and Magic (Mimi Young) 58:48

5M ago58:48

58:48

Many of us feel more intuitive and connected to the mystical and the magical in the second half of the menstrual cycle and today I’m directly exploring the connection between menstrual cycle awareness, witchcraft and psychic capacities. Our guest is Mimi Young, a Taiwanese-Canadian, Daoist, animist, spirit worker and medium, who serves her communit…

1
Episode 38 - 50 facts about me 27:05

5M ago27:05

27:05

🐚 Hey everyone! I wanted to take a moment to truly introduce myself and share some personal facts about who I am beyond just being your podcast host. In this episode, I opened up about everything from my childhood dreams to my current adventures. Topics Covered: My journey from anthropology student to menstrual health expert Life experiences across…

1
Episode 40 - How to Access Ancient Wisdom as Modern Women with Nicole Costerus 44:31

5M ago44:31

44:31

🐚 Topics covered Introduction to Nicole and the work she is here to do. Nicole’s background and initiation into the Vodou lineage in Benin. The role of ancient wisdom in today’s world and its importance, as shared by Nicole. Key pillars of the ancestral healing model Nicole practices and feels comfortable sharing. Nicole’s insights on body cycles (…

1
Episode 39 - Thriving with ADHD while Running Your Business with Amanda Perry 43:56

5M ago43:56

43:56

🐚 Topics covered: Who is Amanda + why did she create her business? Amanda’s journey with ADHD and diagnosis How ADHD shows up in women show up and how it is different compared to men How is running a business with adhd different for neurodivergent folks compared to neurotypical folks? What Amanda would say to anyone who suspects they have ADHD Lear…

1
182. Worshipping the Menstrual Cycle as a Gateway to the Sacred Feminine (Sarah Jenks) 58:42

5M ago58:42

58:42

When our guest today, Sarah Jenks was in her 20s, striving to get it all right, and be a good girl, she quickly found herself feeling exhausted, empty and struggling with emotional eating. One day, she stumbled upon sacred feminine ceremony and her life changed. She was inspired to dig into the history of sacred feminine ceremony, where she discove…

1
We’re BACK with a new name: The Inner Rhythms Podcast is here. Launch on Jan 29! 6:23

5M ago6:23

6:23

🐚 I have something truly special to share with you today! I took a break from the podcast to reflect on my values and my own cyclical journey and decided it’s time for a rebirth. The Planting Seeds podcast is transforming and will continue under the name of the Inner Rhythms podcast. On January 29th, three powerful launch episodes will drop where w…

1
181. The Spiritual Power of our Wombs and Menstrual Cycles (Usha Anandi) 57:46

5M ago57:46

57:46

We live in a world where we so often feel that we need to live like men, work like men, and push ourselves like men in order to be valued. When the truth is that we are more-or-less twenty eight different women each month, and there is immense power and magic in this innate ebb and flow. As our guest today, Usha Anandi, the Founder of Womben Wellne…

1
180. How Your Cycle Can Help You Realise Your 2025 Visions (Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:07:54

5M ago1:07:54

1:07:54

Happy New Year! Today we’re back with our first live episode of 2025, and we’re trying out something new and fun - we hope you love it: a ‘power card’ reading for the year to come. Our theme for today is how menstrual cycle awareness can help us all to tap into our visions and dreams for the coming year, and how the daily practice of checking in wi…

1
179. How to Begin the Year, and Everything Else, with Cycle Awareness - Replay (Sjanie & Alexandra) 57:43

6M ago57:43

57:43

As we enter 2025, we explore what menstrual cycle awareness can teach us about how to begin things well. This is an episode we recorded a couple of years ago, when we were each navigating a bumpy beginning to the year, and we used this as a lens to explore how the deep intelligence within the cycle is guides us through life’s highs and lows. Whethe…

1
178. How to End the Year, and Everything Else, with Cycle Awareness - Replay (Alexandra & Sjanie) 58:03

6M ago58:03

58:03

Today we’re sharing a conversation we had a couple of years back at the close of the year and it’s all about what cycle awareness can teach us about all of life’s endings; the smaller, more surface level ones like the end of the year we have coming up, and the bigger more profound ones, like ending relationships, moving house, all the way to the de…

1
177. How Inner Winter Awakens Feminine Leadership - Replay (Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:00:07

6M ago1:00:07

1:00:07

Today we’re sharing one of our most popular episodes from the archives - to tune into the outer winter here in the northern hemisphere… it’s all about how the inner winter of the menstrual cycle awakens feminine leadership… So the thing that originally inspired this conversation was that Sjanie’s period came very early the month before we spoke. Sh…

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176. Why We’re Taking a Sabbatical - and How You Can Too! (Alexandra & Sjanie) 1:07:03

6M ago1:07:03

1:07:03

Guided by the wisdom of deep rest at menstruation, Alexandra and Sjanie do a 'Big Bleed' retreat for Red School every year, a kind of short sabbatical. Even though Red School is a big eco-system, with a community of 1000s of people and a whole team taking care of many different pieces, they take the bold leadership move of pressing pause on it all,…

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Iris Josephina Podcasts

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